Monday, December 2, 2024
Halloween decorating is officially underway in Long Beach, with the fifth annual Halloween Decorated House Digital Map going live on Oct. 25.
This map highlights the locations of festive homes throughout the city.
Long Beach community member Myndie Friedman has been decorating her home for Halloween since her kids were small. She used to decorate her family’s apartment, but even after moving into her current home, she kept it going. She’s now been in Long Beach for seven years and has decorated each year, even before the community competition started.
“Halloween has always been my favorite holiday,” Friedman said. “I love aesthetics, I love Long Beach, and it’s just a great community.”
Residents and visitors are encouraged to use the map to tour the registered homes. While participants can vote for their favorites, there will be no winners announced or prizes awarded.
Participants like Friedman will have all lights, animations, and decorations ready and activated from 6 to 9 p.m. nightly from Oct. 25 through 31. Homes must also be visible from the street.
“I love giving back to the community and I really think it makes people happy,” she said. “I see people stop by, people knock on my door and it makes the kids happy. It makes me smile, it makes other people smile, and I think everyone should do it.”
Participants agreed to have their addresses posted on the digital map, which is available on the city’s and chamber of commerce’s websites and social media channels.
Friedman likes to decorate her house somewhat similarly each year, but builds upon what she did to make it better. She likes to display skeletons, and lets her creative side take over during this time of the year.
“I have a lot of skeletons this year,” Friedman said of her decorations. “I move things around, reposition skeletons, things like that. I have a creative side here, everyone’s creative in some area. It’s not the same every year because I say, ‘you know what? This will look better here,’ and I move things around.”
If Halloween is your favorite holiday, just like Friedman, and you enjoy seeing the creativity of your neighbors, don’t miss this spook-tacular event.
To find the city’s map, visit LongBeachNY.gov/Halloween. You can, while being safe, follow the map around the city and look at each and every house participating. Be sure to pick out your favorite houses and decorations, and share with your fellow community members.
